Wagon loading mechanism



May 9, 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU WAGON LOADING MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. R.G.Le73urneau Miami/Z:

y 9 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU' 2,506,930

WAGON LOADING MECHANISM Filed June ll, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

R. GLeTburneau BY KITTYS y 9, 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,506,930

WAGON LOADING MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 40 54 i: Hi i '1: 5:5 i=' i is /37 INVENTOR. R. GLej'aurneau,

K7 TTYS Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE WAGON LOADING MECHANISM Application June 11, 1946, Serial No. 675,886

1 Claim.

This invention relates in general to heavyduty load transporting wagons.

In particular this invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved, power actuated, wagon-loading mechanism; such mech anism being mounted on the wagon in unitary relation and thus always available for ready use.

While especially designed for use on wagons which haul pulp-wood logs from the forest where cut, the mechanism obviously can be used on wagons adapted to haul other types of loads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wagon loading mechanism which includes a longitudinally extending overhead rail assembly mounted on the wagon and projecting to a termination to the rear of the latter; there being a power actuated carriage movable along the rail assembly, and a power actuated, load lifting unit depending from the carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wagon loading mechanism, as in the preceding paragraph, which includes a novel cable system arranged to operate the carriage and said load lifting unit selectively and independently; the system being designed so that the load lifting unit, which depends from the carriage, remains in any selected or adjusted position regardless of travel of the carriage.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a wagon loading mechanism which is operative to readily and quickly pick up a load from the ground at the rear of the wagon and to then move the load forwardly and deposit the same on the bed of the wagon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical wagon loading mechanism, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a load transporting wagon embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section through the longitudinally extending rail assembly, showing the mounting of the carriage therein.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the cable system.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the loading mechanism is here shown incorporated in a load transporting wagon which includes a low bed I having upwardly and outwardly flaring sides 2,

the rear deck 9 of a tractor, indicated generally I at ie, which tractor includes transversely spaced pneumatic-tired drive wheels H. A longitudinally extending overhead rail assembly, indicated generally at 12, is disposed a substantial distance above the bed I in a plane centrally between the sides 2; said rail assembly being supported, adjacent its forward end, by rigid post's l3 fixed on the front end of the wagon and upstanding therefrom. The rear end portion of the rail assembly l2 extends rearwardly to a termination some distance back of the wagon, and said rail assembly is supported, adjacent but short of its rear end, by an arch frame l4 fixed on the wagon at the rear and extending upwardly therefrom at a rearward incline; such arch frame permitting of loading of material onto the bed I from the rear of the wagon, without obstruction.

The overhead rail assembly 12 is hollow, and at the bottom thereof includes a transversely spaced pair of internal rails l5. A hollow carriage I6 is disposed in the rail assembly I2 for movement lengthwise thereof; said carriage including, adjacent opposite ends thereof, transversely spaced pairs of relatively large-diameter rollers ll which ride on corresponding ones of the internal rails [5 from above; the lower portion or" the carriage depending between said rails, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Between each pair of rollers I1, and concentric thereto, the carriage includes a relatively large-diameter cable pulley 18; said cable pulleys being spaced apart lengthwise in the carriage, for the purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The carriage I6 is power actuated in a forward or rearward direction, selectively, as follows:

A laterally facing, upstanding mounting plate [9 is fixed in connection with the neck 6, and a reversible electric winch 20 is mounted on said plate in laterally projecting relation; said winch including a cable drum on the opposite side of said plate with the axis of said drum horizontal and extending transversely of the wagon.

the wagon being closed at its forward end 3, but

A carriage control cable, indicated generally at 22, is wound, intermediate its ends, about the drum 2! and thence extends, from opposite sides of the latter, as two separate cable reaches, one reach being indicated at 23, while the other reach is indicated at 24. The reeving of the cable reaches 23 and 24 is as follows:

The cable reach 23 leaves the drum 2| and extends upwardly over a horizontal-axis, direction- 3 changing sheave 25 in a multiple sheave block 26 mounted at the forward end of the rail assembly, and thence said reach 23 extends forwardly about a vertical-axis, direction-changing sheave 21 ahead of the block 26 and substantially alined with the front end of the rail assembly. From the sheave 2'! the cable reach 23 :extends irearwardly within the hollow rail assembly and connects, as at 28, to the carriagerlB.

The other cable reach 24 extends upwardly from the drum 2| about a horizontal-axis, direction-changing sheave 29 in the :block 26 and thence extends rearwardly, alongside the rail .assembly l2, in a tubular guide or pipe 30 which runsiull length of said'rail assembly. .At the rear end of therailassembly "the cable reach 24 runs out ofthe pipe about a vertical-axis, direction-"changing sheave "3 l and thence passes into the rail assembly at'its rear end. The reach 24 then extendsforwardly to connection with the carriageliasat-SZ,

With the above described winch and cablearrangementthe carriage is 'moved along the rail assembly, in forward or rearward directions, by selective operation :of "the reversible electric winch2ll.

A load lifting unit, indicated generally at 33, is vertically adjustably suspended from the carriage l6,'and said unit is constructedand operated as follows:

A lift cable '34 isanchored within the rail assembly l2 adjacent its reartend, as at"35, and said cable thence extends'iorwardly into the carriage and is loopeddownwardly between the cable pulleys i8, as at 36; the lift cable'thus running over cross heads having ,cable guidenspools Sill j,our-

naled therein on opposite sides ofsa'id cable runs. These cable guidespools. cause the lift gable 3'4 to maintain trackonthe pulleys ii 3.

At the front end of the rail assembly .12 the cable reach ell-passes over a horizontal-axis, direction-changing sheave ii in .the multiplesheave block 26, andthence extends downward to, and is wound about, ,thecable drum 42 of .a reversi re electric winch=-i3. The. electric winch 43. is :mounted on. the upstanding vplate 19 adiacent the winchli wand the axis of ,cable drum -is rparallel .to .the axis of drum 2!.

With operation ;of the electric winch 43, the effective length of .the hit cableWM is .varied, causing raising or lowering ,of the loadlifting. unit 33 depending on the directionof rotation of said winch 43.

It should be noted that ,the reeviugof the lift cable 357,15 such that t .carriage it may Jae shifted along the :rail assembly without .afiecting the ad-iusted position of the load lifting unit 33; this for the reason that the loop .36 iiunsthrough the carriage i and block .31 with movement of said carriage.

When the above described wagon loading mechanism is in-use the wagon is backed to a point closely adjacent the. load, and thereafter the load iliftingflunit 3.3115 .lowered and suitably engaged-with saidaload. sThaunit 33, ,Withathe load suspended therefrom, is then elevated :by

bed i the load rests in the wagon on said bed I.

With the wagon loading mechanism, heavy and cumbersome loads can be picked up from the ground and ,placed in the wagon quickly, and .without difficulty. Another advantage is the fact that the wagon loading mechanism is a unitary part'of the wagon and is thus always available forimmediate use.

The reversible electric winches 20 and G3 are of a type which include a normally set brake, which brake automatically releases when the Winch is operated. As a consequence the carriage *l'tpand the load lifting unit 33, always maintain their-adjusted position when the corresponding winch'is not in operation.

The *wi'nches "EtanddS are interposed in an operating and control circuit, not shown, but whichincludes switches accessible to the operator of the tractor to; such circuit being energized through the medium of a heavy-duty generator on thetractor.

"From the foregoing description it will be readily :seen that "there "has been produced such a device substantially "fulfills the 'objects of the inventionasset forth herein.

While thisspecification-sets forth in detail the preeent-andpreferred constructiorrof the device, still' in practice such deviations from-such detail may be resorted to as do-no't form adeparture fromthe spirit'o'f the invention, as defined by the'appended'claim.

Having-thus described the invention, the followingis-claimed new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

In a'vehicle'loading'mechanism which includes apair-of longitudinally extending laterally spaced apartrails supported above a vehicle, a carriage comprising a frame disposed between and 'depending belowthe rails, a pair of spaced apart rollers journaled'at "eachend of the iranieand riding 'therails, a pulley journaled in the frame between each. pair ,of "rollers, "a cable anchored adjacent'one end of'the'rails and reeved overone pulley, thence being looped downwardly between the; pulleys and'then reeved overthe'other pulley and extending thence longitudinally of the rails, a winch to whichrthe other end of the "cable is operatively connected, a load suspenlding unit including ,a. sheave supported in rolling relation in the loop inithe cable belowithe carriagameans to selectively pull the carriage along the rails'in one direction or the other, a pair of spaced transverseiy extendingcross heads fixed to the lower edge 'ofsaid frame, and guide spools journaled in the cross heads on opposite sides-oft-he cable loop which dependsbelow the pulleys.

"RQBERT G. LE'TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the file of this :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,260 .Brodesser Apr. 28, 189.1 $16,321 Berg-rem .,Jan. 11, 1910 1,025,287 Mattson ..May 7, 1912 1,535,338 Otterson July 12, 1927 1,775,398 Kacena septa, 1930 1,967,166 Walker July 17,1934 2,405,299 Godwin Aug. 6,1946 

